Oakland Eats: New Falafel and Ice Cream Spots, Fusion Tacos, & More

Happy eating, East Bay-ers! This week, find new destinations for falafel and fusion tacos in Uptown Oakland, ice cream in Temescal, and a food-friendly drinking destination in Berkeley.

First up, much-loved food truck Liba Falafel has opened their first brick-and-mortar location in Uptown Oakland. The menu of seasonal toppings and salads, pickles, and fresh-fried falafel will be largely similar to the truck's offerings (complete with the fantastic DIY toppings bar), but expect some menu expansion as owner Gail Lillian gets settled into her new digs.

Also joining the Uptown fray is Belly, slinging fusion-influenced tacos, burritos, and burgers. Owners Alice Woo and Alan Chun pay homage to their Chinese and Korean-American backgrounds (respectively), while recreating dishes they grew to love while living in Southern California. So, taco and burrito fillings include everything from spicy honey-roasted pork belly with sesame slaw to steak with Korean slaw and kimchi aioli. The love-it-or-hate-it California burrito (with french fries, naturally) makes an appearance, too.

Over in Temescal, another mobile vendor is putting down roots — Tori Wentworth's Curbside Creamery has opened its first shop after great success at East Bay farmers markets (where the ice cream is sold from Curbside's charming trike). The shop has an old school, ice cream parlor feel with decidedly modern flavors — think bourbon whiskey and vanilla and Earl Grey and Thai Iced Tea. Curbside's popular vegan ice creams, and ice cream sandwiches, will be available, too. Their grand opening party is Friday, August 1, from 5-9 pm.

Townie in Berkeley.

Celebrate Oakland's new spots with a beer and a snack at Townie, now open on University Avenue in Berkeley. The neighborhood bar is helmed by Nima Shokat and Maianna Voge, with Dana Ryan (previously at State Bird Provisions and Gather) heading up the food program. The menu is centered on shareable small plates — including potato croquettes with serrano ham and manchego, heirloom tomatoes with bacon, and mussels with chorizo — meant to pair well with Townie's solid draft beer list (16 total, with some emphasis on local breweries). You'll find a simple, straightforward cocktail menu, too.